FEDERAL POLITICS. ANNOUNCEMENT BY PREMIER.

Evening Post, Volume LCCVI, Issue 126, 26 November 1908, Page 7

FEDERAL POLITICS. ANNOUNCEMENT BY PREMIER.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. REFERENDUM REGARDING THE NEW PROTECTION. By TMe£r»ph.~-Pre«* Association. — Copyright MELBOURNE, 25th November. When the House of Representatives reassembled this afternoon the Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, made his promised statement regarding the Government's policy. The Government, ne said, looked forward to not more than fourteen sitting days. There had not been time for Ministers to give attention to any large issues of policy. The Customs would in all likelihood show an improvement of about £89,000. That arose largely through, the decrease in the production of sugar. The Government hoped to give full effect to the old age pensions schema, but cbuld not accept Sir William Lyne's estimate of the amount required. Mr. Fisher said his own idea was the amount, needed would be about £1,500,000. The Government would see thaii sufficient funds were available. As to the new protection the Ministry proposed to appeal to the people, through the referendum, to give such powers to Parliament as would enable it to give protection to the' worker as well as to the manufacturer. The Government accepted the division given on the capital site question, and would introduce a Bill to enable a suitable area to be chosen. That Bill would be introduced during this session. The Iron Bonus Bill would be proceeded with, but some amendments would be introduced.